The General Administration of Customs ("GAC") has recently issued the Announcement [2018] No.127 to clarify matters concerning the adjustment to supervision of inward and outward conveyances for water and air transportation. This announcement will take effect from November 15, 2018.
The announcement states that, relevant enterprises shall, pursuant to the Measures of the Customs of the People's Republic of China for the Supervision and Administration of Inward and Outward Conveyances, the Measures for the Administration of Entry and Exit Inspection and Quarantine on Ships of International Sails, and requirements of this announcement in respect of the time limit, data items, and filling specifications, for the declaration of inward and outward conveyances for water and air transportation, submit electronic data on inward and outward conveyances to the customs. Meanwhile, the announcement expressly states that an incoming vessel must receive the quarantine at the place designated by the domestic port where it has its first stop in China, and the head in charge of the conveyance shall submit the electronic data on the Preliminary Declaration of an Inward Vessel of the Customs of the People's Republic of China, among others, to the customs office 24 hours ahead of the expected arrival of this vessel at the port. Moreover, it is required in the announcement that, where there is a need to board the conveyance to conduct an inspection, the customs shall, after receiving the electronic data about the conveyance's whereabouts and the declaration, give an electronic order to the head in charge of the conveyance to inform him of the upcoming on-board inspection.